United continues advocating proposed flights to Cuba

President
Barack Obama will become the first president to visit Cuba while
in office in nearly 90 years.

Photo: Franklin Reyes, AP

To promote United Airlines' proposed flights to Cuba, Steve Morrissey, vice president of regulatory and policy, is visiting the once forbidden country to speak with Cuban officials, U.S. leaders and business executives.

"I'm going to talk to anyone who will listen," Morrissey said.

Morrissey is traveling with a business delegation organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He will be there Saturday through Wednesday, overlapping President Barack Obama's trip. Obama will become the first president to visit Cuba while in office in nearly 90 years.

As part of his administration's efforts to normalize relations with Cuba, individuals can now visit Cuba for "people-to-people educational travel," the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry announced Tuesday. Tourism is still not allowed.

This means people can visit Cuba "provided that the traveler engages in a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities intended to enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people's independence from Cuban authorities and that will result in a meaningful interaction between the traveler and individuals in Cuba," the news release stated.

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This follows an agreement signed earlier this year that will restore scheduled air service between the countries.

So instead of seeking out charter flights or organized groups to Cuba, which can be expensive, people can now plan their own educational journeys. And Morrissey said this aligns with United's efforts to make Cuba accessible outside of South Florida.

"That type of change will make our case even that much stronger," Morrissey said.

United, which doesn't have a hub in the sunshine state, applied for daily service between Newark Liberty International Airport and Havana, as well as Saturday-only service from Bush Intercontinental Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Last on its priority list is a second Saturday flight from Newark.

Morrissey said this strategy makes Cuba accessible for the entire country – not just those in Miami.

Flights from Houston, which United calls its gateway to Latin America, could provide one-stop connections for 20 key markets across central and western U.S.

"We want to make sure our customers are able to take advantage of that opportunity," he said.

The Department of Transportation expects to approve airlines and routes this summer. United launched the website www.unitedtocuba.com for customers to voice their support.